Busy day at SuperDraft as Chicago Fire trades No. 1 pick
On Tuesday new Chicago Fire general manager Nelson Rodriguez felt the need to explain his team's "silence" this off-season.
On Thursday Rodriguez and the Fire started making noise, with an emphasis on reworking the team's weakest link, defense, and setting itself up for more moves later.
"We knew we would be better today than we were yesterday," Rodriguez said. "We're really pleased with how much better we are today."
The Fire drafted Wake Forest winger Jack Harrison with the No. 1 overall pick, then traded him to NYCFC for the No. 4 pick and general allocation money. Rodriguez and first-year coach Veljko Paunovic used that draft choice on Stanford left back Brandon Vincent, who is in camp with the U.S. national team along with two of his new teammates: veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson and midfielder Matt Polster, the Fire's top draft pick in 2015.
The Fire then traded left back Joevin Jones to Seattle for the No. 15 pick and more general allocation money. The speedy Jones was one of the Fire's few bright spots in 2015. Rodriguez said the Fire had many trade offers for Jones.
The Fire also traded draft picks and spots in the MLS allocation order with Colorado and selected North Carolina defender Jonathan Campbell at No. 12.
"We think Jonathan is a good player who could become a really good player," Rodriguez said. "... In an ideal world we'd love for him to play a bit but really learn from the (European) center backs that we ultimately bring in."
In the second round, the Fire took North Florida midfielder/forward Alex Morrell.
"We feel we picked up three really good young players that fit our profile, that fit our values and in the process amassed a nice bank account that will give us further opportunity in the international market," Rodriguez said.
Vincent, Campbell and Morrell are the third, fourth and fifth new players added to the Fire roster. Not one of those players has professional experience.
The Fire has 16 players on the roster, leaving almost half the roster slots unfilled with preseason training starting Jan. 25.
"We know that we will be adding experience to the team," Rodriguez said, referring to the two European center backs the team hopes to sign, plus some MLS veterans.
The Fire entered the day with a lot of allocation money and only added to its wealth. That money will be used on the international market, with Rodriguez citing the need for central midfielders.
"Players that we believe can come into the league and make a difference," he said. "Players that are very hard to find domestically. We believe that the results of today's dealings have accelerated our program. What we need to do now is be very judicious, very patient and exacting with the person and the type of player that we hope to bring in."
Harrison and Vincent were semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy, awarded to the best player in college soccer.
• Local note: The Columbus Crew drafted Marshall Hollingsworth of Wheaton College with the final pick of the second round. Hollingsworth is from Libertyville.
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